"The Battle of China," Chapter VI of Frank Capra's "Why We Fight" series, explains why the Empire of Japan possessed such a strong interest in ruling the disparate lands of China. In an attempt to break the will of the Chinese people in one massive assault, Japan invades Nanking and massacres forty thousand civilians. The attack results in an opposite effect, galvanizing the Chinese resistance and unifying the separate lands into a single Chinese identity. While the Japanese take control of all Chinese ports, hoping to cut off all resources from its victim, China's allies effectuate an engineering miracle. They construct the seven hundred mile long Burma Road over the mountains of Myanmar, and set up a constant caravan of trucks to ship food and materiel to the Chinese armies, keeping them alive. Frustrated by their inability to conquer China, the Japanese turn their attention to the islands of the Pacific, and the United States.
Reviewer:indy.go.blue66
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February 12, 2019 Subject:
War of the Resistance
Other than watching this piece of propaganda film, I actually knew very little about the Sino-Japanese war until I bought the game "War of the Suns" which piqued my interest. Having read a couple of books now, I can't tell you how impressed I am by the Chinese efforts 1937-1945. As with the Russians, IMO Capra's biggest weakness in this film is in painting the Chinese, especially the Koumintang as "just like us" (USA.) One can get a truer picture by reading Barbara Tuchman's "Stilwell and the American Experience in China 1910-1945." A shame though that the Americans didn't realize the truth about "Brother Mao" until it was too late; the Chinese didn't deserve (and don't deserve) that fate.
Reviewer:rclo
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July 11, 2011 Subject:
Terrific Film!
We all know of the fight against the Nazi peril in Europe and Africa, as well as on the high seas. We know of the Russian peoples' stand against Hitler's armies and the importance of that resistance to Hitler's defeat. But how many of us realize the scope and significance of the Chinese contribution to the defeat of the Japanese? This film tells a story that too few Americans knew and too many have forgotten.